Justice and Home Affairs Council, 14/09/2015, 14 September 2015

Main results

We are facing a serious and pressing challenge. Today's meeting enabled us to take some important political decisions which will help us address that challenge...". Jean Asselborn, President of the Council

The Council adopted a decision establishing provisional measures in the area of international protection for the benefit of Italy and Greece.

This decision establishes a temporary and exceptional relocation mechanism over two years from the frontline member states Italy and Greece to other member states. It will apply to 40 000 persons in clear need of international protection who have arrived or are arriving on the territory of those member states as from 15 August 2015 until 16 September 2017.

• Relocation of 40 000 refugees from Greece and Italy agreed by Council

Home affairs ministers were debriefed by a number of EU and United Nations agencies on the latest information on migratory flows and the situation on the ground. 

Ministers were also informed about the progress made in implementing the most recent EU measures and heard a presentation by the Commission on its new proposals on migration.

The presidency drew up a set of conclusions establishing a further course of action for dealing with the current migration crisis.

• Read the full text of the presidency conclusions

Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg's Minister for Immigration and Asylum and President of the Council said: "We are facing a serious and pressing challenge. Today's meeting enabled us to take some important political decisions which will help us address that challenge. But time is short. A shared problem calls for a shared response. We are ready to use the remainder of our time as Council Presidency to make further progress on a response that enables us together to meet the challenge".

• Outcome of the Council meeting
• Finding solutions to migratory pressures (background information)